Stephen Akridge, co-founder of Solana and former principal engineer at Solana Labs, is facing a lawsuit filed by his ex-wife, Elisa Rossi. Filed on December 24 in San Francisco’s Superior Court, Rossi alleges that Akridge secretly earned millions in staking rewards from Solana tokens she claims belong to her.

According to the lawsuit, the couple’s March divorce agreement divided their SOL holdings. However, Rossi accuses Akridge of exploiting her lack of cryptocurrency expertise to retain control of her tokens and continue staking them without her consent. The complaint states that Akridge granted Rossi wallet access but retained control over staking operations, allowing him to earn substantial rewards until Rossi discovered the situation in May 2024.

While the precise amount of SOL in question remains undisclosed, the complaint notes the sum exceeds $25,000, with significant amounts allegedly withheld. Rossi also claims to have repeatedly confronted Akridge via text between May and December, only to be met with dismissive responses, including one where Akridge reportedly laughed and said, “Good luck getting those staking rewards from me.”

Solana’s token, SOL, has seen a surge in popularity, climbing over 80% this year and trading at $194, fueled by its role in 2024’s crypto trends. Staking rewards, which involve locking tokens to validate blockchain transactions, have been a key attraction for users.

Akridge, now CEO of Cyber Grant, has not responded to requests for comment. Cyber Grant and legal representatives have yet to address the allegations.

This case underscores the complexities of asset division in the crypto era, where technical expertise can tilt the balance in disputes.